Data Centers and the Internet of Things to come

Internet is the medium to keep people connected and communicate with each other. But now utility of internet has reached beyond the ‘person-to-person’ communication. Now, the Internet will also connect a network of several objects through which data can be collected and integrated for better efficiency and accuracy.

Wikipedia explains IoT as the network of physical objects or “things” embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity, which enables these objects to collect and exchange data.

‘Things’ in IoT refers to several devices like heart monitoring implants, bio-chip transponders on farm animals, built-in sensors in automobiles, vending machines, HVAC systems and many other such devices and machines, from where the data will be collected, analyzed and processed in real time.

This will lead to a huge amount of data due to which there will be an enormous increase the workloads and impact will be on the data centers. Going by the reputed research reports, more than 82% of businesses are going to take up IoT applications by 2017. Another report suggests that as many as 26 large MNCs are ready to spend around one Billion dollars each on for IoT services by 2016.

Internet of things have evolved to its next level and now it is being called as Internet of Everything. The technologists are extending and leveraging its utility to multiple categories. The IoT products and applications will help in connecting Smart City, smart home, smart enterprises, smart environment and even smart fashion i.e. wearable technology.

How IoT functions?

With IoT, all devices and appliances will be installed with sensors and will be connected to the internet network to communicate with each other. Yes, the devices will be able to communicate with each other by sending and receiving data. For an instance, if there is an old family member in a home, then a wireless wearable device can alarm you of their regular health updates. You will be alerted when something is not right, so that you can be able to take immediate action. Similarly, it can work for the enterprises. Sensors-fitted HVAC systems can automatically adjust the temperature according to the weather, saving a lot on energy.

This rapidly spreading IoT trends calls for the adaption by the data centers of all sizes to effectively and efficiently manage its real-time processing needs. The data center capacity needs to be optimized to manage the massive amount of data collected from large network connections.